OMAHA, Neb. - After a historic season that saw countless team and personal records shatter, the Mavericks time were bested by No. 1 South Dakota 3-0 in the Summit League Championship Finals. 

The Coyotes will move on to the NCAA Tournament as the Summit League representatives after winning their second consecutive title. As for the Mavericks, they end their Summit League slate with a 20-10 overall record for the second year in a row, tying the 2021 squad for the most wins in the team's Division I history.

Set by Set: (20-25, 14-25, 28-30)

• The Mavericks got off to a solid start in set one, taking a 4-1 lead thanks to a kill from Shayla McCormick and a block from Mariah Murdie and McKenna Ruch. However, from there the Coyotes took control of the set, soon going up 12-6. Omaha did manage to briefly take a 19-17 lead after a 5-0 scoring run capped off by a Brilee Wieseler ace. Unfortunately, USD immediately responded to tie the set at 20-20 before scoring five unanswered to take the set.
• Omaha was unable to find their stride offensively in set two as South Dakota never relented, quickly taking a 21-9 lead. The Mavericks did gain some momentum with a 3-0 run that featured two kills from Buss and a service ace from Olivia Curry, but it was too little too late as the Coyotes went on to win the set.
• The Mavericks made a complete turnaround in the third set, going up 14-11 halfway through. McCormick added three kills and a solo block in the half, while Rachel Fairbanks and Ruch each had two kills. From there, though, the Coyotes gradually started to chip away at Omaha's lead, eventually scoring four in a row to take a 23-22 lead late. Despite getting to set point twice, the Mavericks could not close things out as South Dakota broke the stalemate and won the finals.

Inside the Box Score

• The only stat Omaha led South Dakota in today was blocks as they held an eight to six edge.
• McCormick ends her season with her 19th double-double, racking up 12 kills and 12 digs. She also led the team with five total blocks.
• Buss had nine kills and a .409 hitting percentage, her second highest of the season with at least 20 total attempts. 
• Seniors Sami Clarkson, Jaiden Centeno, and Mariah Murdie each played well in their final match. Clarkson added 14 assists, giving her 1031 on the season and 4172 in her career. Centeno led the team with 14 digs. She now ends the season with 424 digs and 852 in two years with Omaha. Murdie was tied for the team lead with five total blocks and finishes the season with 64 in total.